Must do restaurants for DLR first timers?

[LovintheLodge]

Hi DLR vets! My family is going to DLR next month. I am looking for some restaurant recommendations...both counter service and sit down. Our kids are 19 and 21...and my son loves to eat! We are staying at CCI for 4 nights but will be visiting DLR a couple of times outside of these dates as well (we are staying with family that live nearby for several days and they are AP holders).

Thanks in advance!
Kerry

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[HydroGuy]

At DL

If your budget allows it, Blue Bayou. Make a res.

Others...

Cafe Orleans (table service - make res)

Plaza Inn (CS)
Redd Rockett's (CS)
Rancho del Zocalo (CS)


At DCA

Carthay Circle Theater is the new signature dining - make a res
Wine Country Trattoria (TS)
Flo's (CS)
Pacific Wharf Cafe (CS)

DTD and hotels

Tortilla Jo's
Storytellers
lots of others

 

[skiingfast]

With Counter Service it's hard to go wrong. I'd suggest just not having hot dogs, burgers or pizza slices. DLR has much better CS dining than WDW, very varied menus that are better than the theme park basics. Still the line for Corn Dogs can be long, a hint that people love them.

With Table Service the problem you will have is DLR barely has any compared to WDW. Certainly not the selection that Epcot provides. For a big eater, Big Thunder Ranch BBQ is all you care to eat.

 

[larina]

Everyone has different thoughts on food. Our family likes:

Character meals:
~Surf's Up Mickey in the PPH. This is the only character meal with the Mouse man himself, my favorite character. Also, there's a cute interactive dance show, although your kids are older, it is still fun to watch, if you like that sort of thing.
~Storytellers in the Grand. My family thinks the food here is better than the other character buffet breakfasts. You can order off the menu or get the buffet, which is nice. If you go with the buffet, the bring fresh waffles out, which is also nice.
~Minnie & Friends at the Plaza inside Disneyland park. Honestly, we don't like the food here quite as well, but they have THE BEST character interaction if that is what you are looking for.

For a nice spot to sit and people watch while having an afternoon bite in DCA grab a table at the Cove Bar, upstairs from Ariel's grotto. We like the lobster nachos and sliders.

 

[4th Gen Disney Fan]

I ALWAYS recommend the corn dog wagon on Main Street. It's less expensive than most CS locations, and the food is DELICIOUS! Always worth the trip!

 

[mouseymommy]

We love the chicken at Plaza Inn. My DH had the beef there once though, and didn't care for it. The onion rings and fried green tomato sandwich at the Hungry Bear are very good. The cupcake is very good too. We liked the pomme frites at the Cafe Orleans. Our favorite place in DLR to eat is Big Thunder Ranch BBQ. The food is good, and they have a little show while you eat. The food is good too. Ribs, chicken, cole slaw baked beans and cornbread. At DCA we like the blue cheese burger at Taste Pilots and the bread bowls at Pacific Wharf. This trip we plan on trying the Cove Bar. The nachos look so good! Speaking of nachos, we love the ones they serve at White Water snacks in the Grand. You can get there easily through the entrance by Grizzly River.

 

[gatorfreud]

We always have an early lunch at Carnation Cafe - make a reservation though. The food is pretty good, but what I really like is being able to go and sit down and have someone else bring the food. And it's cheap.

 

[BriannaRuth]

The one thing I never want to miss is lunch at Blue Bayou inside Pirates of the Caribbean. Second on my list is just a snack -- must have Dole Whip!!

 

[katejc]

If you're looking for atmosphere, the Blue Bayou is expensive, but fun. Ask for a waterside table--totally worth the extra few minutes you'll wait. The food isn't spectacular, but for a one-time experience it's fine.

I think the Mexican place in frontier land is good for a low priced option. Rancho del Zocalo isn't authentically Mexican, but is good and portions are big enough to share ( or feed hungry teenagers...).

Lots of people like Red Rockets pizza Port near Space Mountain for affordable pizza, pastas, and salads in big portions.

I love the Dole whip stand next to the Tiki Room for a pineapple smoothie-like treat on a hot day.

In CA I like Lucky Fortune for rice bowls in the Pacific Wharf area. It's fun to sit there especially when the Mariachi Divas are singing.

Have a great time wherever you end up eating!

 

[gypg]

Be sure to hit up Ghiradelli in DCA for dessert. I'm not a big ice cream fan, but this place was incredible. Best sundae I've ever had.

 

[d1sneymom]

My DS is 6 and LOVES Big Thunder Ranch BBQ. All you can eat Ribs, Chicken, Coleslaw, Beans, Cornbread. We usually get there around 11:30 and don't have to wait to be seated. Entertainment is ok.

I like the Cozy Cones (Chili Cone Carne and Chicken Verde->my fave!) this is more of a snack than a meal as we ate both cones and were still hungry.
Flo's V8 cafe is really good (Brioche french toast and any of their lunch plates)
I like the bread bowls at Pacific Warf.
Taste Pilot's Grill is good. I get their blue cheese burger.
Ghiradelli's is good but I live in the San Francisco Bay Area so for me it's not a must. Although their Sundaes are pretty good.

Corn Dogs-so good!
Dole Whips (or Dole Whip Floats)-esp. on a hot day. There are 2 lines one on the outside of the Tiki Room and one inside. The one inside is usually faster and doesn't have as long of a line.

DTD-We get the Po'Boys at the cafe next to Ralph Brennan's. And the beignets (you can get beignets and mint juleps at the French Market inside DL). Sometimes we eat at ESPN, but that's just so DH can have a little time to relax and watch some sports. Their food is pretty good and the portions are big.

I know your kids are older but we do character breakfast (as it is buffet). Goofy's Kitchen or Minnie's Breakfast (at the Plaza Inn). I prefer Goofy's to Minnie's for food (PB&J pizza-yumm) but prefer Minnie's over Goofy for characters. Goofy's is not located in the parks but inside the Disneyland Hotel.

 

[DLandLifer]

Blue Bayou for sure! Make a res.
Plaza Inn for Chicken
Corn Dog wagon on Main Street

 

[LovintheLodge]

Wow! Thanks for all the suggestions. I am going to take a closer look and check out menus on a few and see where I need to make reservations.

I may be back with more questions...thanks again everyone,

Kerry

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[SilentFeline]

The only restaurant that hasn't been mentioned that I recommend is Jolly Holiday Bakery (CS). They have great sandwiches and treats (my favorites are the chicken salad sandwich on brioche and the strawberry lemon cupcake). Also, I know someone already mentioned Carnation Cafe, but I just want to recommend that you try the loaded baked potato soup. It may be my favorite food item in all of DLR, and it's definitely a favorite among regulars based on what I've read. Have fun!

Edit: Oh! I forgot to mention Whitewater Snacks at the GCH. My boyfriend and I really like the prices and portion sizes here, and the food is great too! It's good for breakfast or lunch/dinner.

 

[mouseymommy]

The only restaurant that hasn't been mentioned that I recommend is Jolly Holiday Bakery (CS). They have great sandwiches and treats (my favorites are the chicken salad sandwich on brioche and the strawberry lemon cupcake). Also, I know someone already mentioned Carnation Cafe, but I just want to recommend that you try the loaded baked potato soup. It may be my favorite food item in all of DLR, and it's definitely a favorite among regulars based on what I've read. Have fun!

I really like the beef sandwich from Jolly Holiday. And that soup is really good from Carnation Cafe. Try the Matterhorn Macaroons from Jolly Holiday. They are so good!

 

[mystic_path]

I am one to eat more so off the resort. In that respect I would have to say

Harbor blvd:
Mimi's

Downtown Disney:
- House of Blues
- Rain Forest Cafe

Garden walk: (a 10 minute walk from Disneyland)
- Cheesecake Factory
- Bubba Gumps

If I had to eat in Disneyland then I seem to go to these places
Disneyland:

- Carnation Cafe
- Red Rockets
- Red corn dog wagon on Main Street
- Coke corner (for some reason I think their hot dogs are the best there)


DCA:
- Wine Country Trattoria
- The new boardwalk area by Paradise pier. They have some good places to eat there.

 

[LovintheLodge]

Wow! So many choices!!

I think my family would love Blue Bayou for the atmosphere! I checked out the menu for Wine Country Trattoria and I think my kids would like it too. Since we are interested in seeing WOC should we get the dinner package there, or just get the fast pass from the machines? Are the viewing locations different?

I'm glad to hear about the CS options being good. I feel in WDW there are much less good CS than TS.

Thanks!
Kerry

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[disneyobsessed808]

I would suggest Whitewater Snacks in GC...the Nachos there are the best. The nachos at the Tortilla Jo Taqueria were good too.

I really like the beef sandwich from Jolly Holiday. And that soup is really good from Carnation Cafe. Try the Matterhorn Macaroons from Jolly Holiday. They are so good!

Those macaroons are the BEST EVER! I secretly want to buy 5 of them each time I go, but don't want to look like a pig.

 

[clutter]

OP, when in August are you going? We get there on the 14th!

I did a WOC package for the Trattoria. Listening to the people here, I don't think we're going to be there long enough to try everything that sounds so good! I'll have to hide the Cheesecake Factory from my dd15. It's her favorite. We're also going to take a trek to a Farrell's at some point. I waited tables there in my teens.

 

[LovintheLodge]

OP, when in August are you going? We get there on the 14th!

I did a WOC package for the Trattoria. Listening to the people here, I don't think we're going to be there long enough to try everything that sounds so good! I'll have to hide the Cheesecake Factory from my dd15. It's her favorite. We're also going to take a trek to a Farrell's at some point. I waited tables there in my teens.

Did you do the lunch or dinner package? I still have to make the res. We are checking in at the Candy Cane Inn on the 12th for 4 nights, but we will be in the Anaheim area starting on the 8th! We are staying with my brother-in-law's family prior to the CCI and also for our last night in CA. They have annual passes (no blackout dates) so I decided to get 6 day passes to be flexible with them. I don't want the summer to rush by but I can't wait at the same time!

Kerry

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